Speaking of Spirit

Several years ago, as I was cuddling my newest granddaughter, who had yet to be named, I had a revelation. Looking into her little face, not knowing her name, I knew without any doubt that my heart was full of love for her.  This realization, that I could love her no matter what, gave me cause to ponder. If I, a mere mortal, can feel that way, can you imagine the breadth and depth of the Creator’s Love for us?  Think about it...the Source of All Loves us no matter what we are called; whether Mary, John, Kinjal, Xiaolin, Eyes that Shine, Malidoma, or Nasser. The Great “I Am” Loves us no matter what we look like; whether big or small, black, white, pink, tan, yellow or red. The Great Spirit Loves us no matter what we do; whether we are a president of a country, a pauper in the street, a farm hand or a skilled worker. God Loves us no matter how we behave; whether we follow the Path mindfully or constantly wander off into the briars. The Creator Love us...period. The underst

By Bliu pastels (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 ] This Father's Day, my mind turns to all those fathers in our world who are struggling to find balance in this life for their families, who are living with the task of making decisions no parent should ever need to make and who are battling forces that threaten the lives of their children as well as their own. My mind turns to all thos e men who have fathered children not their own, simply because t hey needed the love and gentle touch of a man who could spend the time to be there. My mind turns to my father - my Daddy - who battled in equal measure the threats to world freedom and freedom from disease.  My mind turns to my sons-in-love, all of whom work tirelessly to provide their children with the best life has to offer by being present in ways their fathers weren't able to be present. With all these fathers in mind, I offer my humble prayer... Abba , Gracious Source of All, bless those who struggle to raise their childre

 Photo © 2016 In The Sound of Music, Maria says, “When the Lord closes a door, somewhere He opens a window.” Many times, these words have rung true for me. However, trusting that, when difficulties arise, we will be cared for is not easy. Too often, we despair, believing that the worse is yet to come. We forget to look for rainbows, silver linings and open doors.  Matthew wrote: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear...Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet Creator feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? …Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (New Testament)  But, people everywhere worry. I know I do. Sometimes, faith is lost when “wants” blind us to “needs.”  Helen Keller said, “When o